The significance of information visualisation based on the symbolic semantics of Peking Opera painted faces (POPF)

Abstract

Peking Opera as a branch of Chinese traditional cultures and arts has a very distinct colourful facial make-up for all actors in the stage performance. Such make-up is stylised in typical cultural elements which all combined together to form the painted faces to describe and symbolize the background and characteristic of specific roles. The Peking Opera Painted Faces (POPF) was taken as an example to study the information visualisation and transmission, to see how information and meanings can be effectively expressed through the colourful visual elements. In order to identify the state-of-the-art in the related Culture Inspired Design as one of the design principles, the literature resources including illustrations of POPF were investigated, and also the semantic features and elements of other similar forms of modern design which has close connection with multiple aspects of social life. The study has proved that the visual elements of POPF played the most effective role in the information transmittion. Future application of this culture resource may include product design, interaction design, system design and service design around the world.